GRAN CANARIA · CANARY ISLANDS
The tours and day trips worth booking.
The 15 top-rated things to do in Gran Canaria — the boat trips, beach days, volcano hikes and old-town wanders worth building a day around, with real prices and who to book each one with.
Cruise off Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria for dolphin and whale watching, then cool off at Taurito with snorkeling and a swim slide.
Most Popular“Really nice crew that do everything to find the dolphins. We saw a lot of them after searching for a while”
Poema del Mar skip-the-line ticket in Gran Canaria: 35 ecosystems, the curved window, Deep Sea, El Veril, and a 400,000L cylinder tank.
“Amazing, nothing like I’ve ever seen before, the best aquarium I’ve ever been to”
A 40-minute Golden Shark submarine tour in Puerto de Mogán, down to 25 metres, passing shipwrecks with a 9-language audio guide.
“For a family of five with two toddlers, it was nice, although it only kept their attention for minutes at a time.”
30-minute camel ride through Maspalomas sand dunes on a comfy 2-seater saddle with Sahawari guides. Insurance included from $21.
“Words cannot describe the feeling! A really lifetime experience, the only opportunity to feel like in Africa while in Europe. Very well organized, spacious and shady waiting point, very good care and kind to the animals. Safe get-on and get-off procedures even for small children. Wonderful landscape to enjoy, right amount of time for the…”
Visit Banana World in Gran Canaria for a guided banana-farm tour in an 1804 restored house, with tastings and banana-based products.
“Mentioned meeting point on the ticket was wrong hence we came late because we had to search the group. You get very interesting facts about cultivation of bananas however some historical facts about cultivation on Canarian Islands would be great. However there was room for questions and tasting but tasting samples of not common banana…”
Guided banana farm tour at Hacienda La ReKompensa with views, 13 banana types, and tastings of jams, wines, and more in 40 minutes.
“Amazing tour. Our guide, Daniela, told us all the interesting facts about bananas and the plantation on the farm. Plenty of interaction and time for questions. The tasting of different products (food & drink) was great! The small museum and gift shop are also really nice with local and ethical products. Highly recommend the guided…”
2.5-hour dolphin cruise off Gran Canaria on Spirit of the Sea: glass-bottom views, expert ID, and a free return voucher if none.
“Had a fantastic time, staff and crew were very nice and polite and also very informative, will definitely be back next year xx”
2.5-hour dolphin and whale cruise from Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria. Close sightings, live guide, photo stops, and an on-board bar.
“Over all, this was a very good experience. Boats can be a bit crowded but this one was OK. We saw flying fish and a fin whale (aka a common rorqual), the second longest whale after the blue whale. I would recommend the company then, as staff were helpful and courteous, and it was good…”
Guided 2-hour buggy tour through Gran Canaria’s south, from Ayagaures Valley to Fataga views. Safety-first fun from Maspalomas.
“Super cool tour, extremely Great vibes from the guides. Worth every cent”
A full 8-hour guided bus tour across Gran Canaria’s north, with free time in Arucas and Firgas, canyon panoramas, Tejeda views, and aloe.
“It was excellent! The Guide was very informative & good natured! It was a great insight to the everyday lives of the community! A great way to see the Island for our first visit!”
Ride gentle horses through Gran Canaria’s volcanic hills for 1–2 hours, with optional hotel transfers and big views of Maspalomas dunes.
“Did the 2 hour horse riding with transfer. So easy route book. Transfer came on time for my group. Got to the stables, everyone was friendly, gave us all the information and safety procedures before we left. Had an amazing ride, was my groups first time, we felt safe and comfortable, the views were amazing.…”
Palmitos Park near Maspalomas pairs dolphin and birds-of-prey shows with exotic animals and gardens, plus big mountain views for a full day.
“One of the best day outs I’ve had in a long time! Great zoo, great location”
Thrilling, family-friendly water park in Maspalomas with 40+ slides, a kid zone, and optional sea lion encounters. Practical tips included.
“Excellent park, well kept and friendly staff. I recommend going during the week compared to a wkend as it won't be as busy with locals and tourists at the same time.. Also recommended paying extra for fast pass. Hardly any wait for the best slides as most people won't pay it, but it's only €15…”
Cocodrilo Park Zoo in Agüimes, Gran Canaria. $11 entry to see rescued animals, Europe’s biggest alligator exhibit, and feeding shows.
“It was a bit far out and we went on a Sunday so taxi service was limited. A transport bus would be a good option but the park itself was great value for money”
Off-road jeep tour of South Gran Canaria: Roque Noblo views, Lake Chira, Tirajana coffee stop, and the Valley of Thousand Palms.
“Excellent trip very Knowledgable guide and driver was very competent and safe. Aloe Vera farm stop showed us very insightful info, however the lady with the blue hair explaining the various products while excellent seems to have a problem with men and i was tempted to ask if there was any products that deals with…”
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